Sunday Olugbenga Abire
Politics is said to be a game of numbers fueled by interest. Even in the arrangement of the City-state where political participation was structured to achieve the best, interest played a pivotal role as thinkers raised the bar of sophistry to undo one another. No thumb is better than the other. In fact, modern democracy exalts the aggregate thumbs of fools over the few thumbs of intellectuals. It is still a wonder to behold. It is one of the beautiful curses of the blessedness of democracy that the thumb of a Professor is not different from that of a cook.
Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa journeyed to the APC National Secretariat, Abuja, to submit his forms that have been duly filled by his numerous sponsors across his party in Ondo state. The whole of Blantyre Crescent where the APC secretariat is located stood still. The people of Ondo state thronged the place. Nobody paid attention to the hot Abuja weather. We all fixed our collective gaze on victory for the people of Ondo state by the nomination of Governor Aiyedatiwa as the flag bearer of his party. Abuja knew it was Lucky’s day. In fact, political analysts agreed that other aspirants merely ‘accompanied’ Governor Aiyedatiwa as they tried to submit theirs because it was Aiyedatiwa’s day. With all sense of modesty, 80% of those who are tall politically in Ondo APC showed up to identify with the Governor. It is just impossible to start mentioning names. Those who couldn’t make it sent their best wishes.
The carnival-like submission started from Ondo state. The Akure airport was filled. Abuja road users knew something was happening with the long convoy of Aiyedatiwa’s lovers that plied the road on Thursday, 4th April. The two means of transportation to Abuja were covered. Those who couldn’t fly made use of the road. My friend who’s a spokesman to a ‘leading aspirant’ joyed in the purchase of bread at Giri junction but he was damn wrong. We only stopped to increase the economy of merchants in Lokoja where we bought fried yam and other edibles. Honestly, it’s still one of the best Abuja journeys I have ever embarked upon. Adventurous and fulfilling.
I draw inspiration from Pericles, the great philosopher, who said “When a citizen is in any way distinguished, he is preferred to the public service, not as a matter of privilege, but as the reward of merit. Neither is poverty a bar, but a man may benefit his country whatever be the obscurity of his condition”. I watched in awe how a once upon a time vilified Deputy and Acting Governor Aiyedatiwa was surrounded by those who matter in Ondo state politics while he continued to reel out his contributions as Governor of Ondo State in the last hundred days at the APC secretariat. He didn’t hide his intention to do more beyond 2025.
The dynamics of politics in Ondo state should teach us a lesson in sobriety. Power truly belongs to God and only God crowns a king. Today is not to differentiate organic followers from mere political crowd. It is not the same as the rented ones or those who came for the bread in one of the teachings of Christ. Aiyedatiwa’s people do not just feel he should be Governor in 2024 but they have resolved to make him a positive reference to the graciousness of God in projecting anyone to limelight. That will be a-two side lesson. While his emergence becomes a necessary fillip for anyone who desires to be great without an established godfather, those who are in the business of pulling people down will also learn that power belongs to God.
The journey ahead is devoid of hatred for anyone or group. It is to birth a purposeful leadership that will pull the majority of the people of Ondo state out of their doldrums. The miraculous incursion of Governor Aiyedatiwa is to emplace development and progress in Ondo state. He has come to unite all while focusing on strengthening the APC in order to achieve more for the people of Ondo state. It is time to birth that inclusivity that we all yearn for in Ondo state. It’s time to knock off primordial sentiments that have clogged us in the past.
While appreciating every stakeholder who identified with Governor Aiyedatiwa when submitting his forms at the APC Secretariat in Abuja, we charge you all to do more for our state by leaving no stone unturned as we come out victorious together on the 20th of April.
Peoplesmind
